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10 Surprising Things That Are Ruining Your Skin

Everyone wants model-esque skin that allows them to skip smearing foundation on their face every day in an attempt to hide acne marks and wrinkles. But you may feel like you are at the bottom of the gene lottery with your skin, and there’s not a thing you can do to help it.

That may be true, but believe it or not, there are changes you can do to make all the difference when it comes to your skin.

Here are 10 things you are doing that may be preventing you from having that J-Lo glow.

1. Talking on the phone

Turns out your phone has more bacteria crawling on it than an office toilet seat. One study found 140 units of Staphylococcus aureus on smartphones compared to less than 20 units on the toilet seat. So when you talk on the phone, this bacterium is transferred to your face causing breakouts and rashes on your cheeks and jawline.

While you need to be careful when cleaning your phone so you don’t damage it, you can regularly wipe it down with a dry or lightly damp lint-free cloth. Also, make sure you wash your hands often because the bacterium on your hands transfers to your phone.

2. Skipping meals

You already know that food is fuel for your body, and since your skin is your body’s biggest organ, it should be no wonder that skipping meals negatively impacts your skin. Without the essential vitamins food provides, your skin will look dull and become extra dry.

3. Not exercising

Skipping your work out could be affecting more than your heart and waistline. Just like with food, because your skin is your body’s biggest organ, it’s also one of your body’s biggest beneficiaries when it comes to physical exercise.

Exercise improves blood vessels that transport oxygen and nutrients to your skin, which affects its luster. Exercise also helps release stress and toxins that can influence your skin’s health.

While exercise does wonders for your skin, it can also have a negative impact if you’re not careful. Exercising while wearing makeup can clog your pores and neglecting to wash your face after a workout can cause dirt and sweat to inflame your skin as well. Furthermore, don’t forget sunscreen when working out in the outdoors.

4. Hot showers

Hot showers may feel may feel great but they aren’t great for your skin. The heat strips your skin’s natural oils. To avoid the harmful effects of hot water, don’t shower longer than 10 minutes and keep the water at a lukewarm temperature. Also, after your shower, pat yourself down with a towel and make sure you moisturize.

5. Coffee

You’ve heard it all before. Chocolate, fried food, or anything that tastes good, is bad for your skin. But there really is science to back up this claim.

Coffee happens to be very acidic and the caffeine messes with your hormones which can increase your skin’s oil production. This means that you may end up with some nasty breakouts.

6. Towels

You probably already know that dirty pillow cases are a hot bed for acne production, but did you know your towel could actually be worse? It’s used to wipe not-completely-clean hands and sits in a room that’s generally a moist breeding ground for bacteria. Dermatologists recommend cleaning towels and washcloths that touch your face after every use.

7. Swimming

Spending lots of time in pools is not great for your skin. Swimming pools contain lots of chlorine to kill bacteria and keep them safe. However, chlorine also kills the good bacteria that your skin needs. This can cause you to have acne, rashes, dry skin, premature wrinkles, and even skin cancer.

Make sure you wash after swimming and be aware of the chlorine levels in both your drinking and bath water.

8. Too much sugar

Sugar can cause diabetes, obesity, and make you feel more sluggish but beyond that, it can be wrecking your skin. It can aggravate hormonal acne, make it harder for your skin to recover from inflammation, and bonds with skin fibers causing them to be stiff and wrinkly. One of the best things you can do for your skin is to limit your sugar intake.

9. Popping zits

You might think that the quickest way to make a pimple clear out is to pop it. However, doing this can cause your skin to become more infected by forcing bacteria into the opening in your skin.

10. Not enough sleep

Did you know that having only one night of bad sleep can wreak havoc on your skin? Sleep for only six hours for three days and the effects are visible. Consistently skimp on your sleep, and you’re looking at permanent skin damage. Inadequate amounts of sleep trigger dark circles, duller skin, and premature aging